Chelmsford

Chelmsford's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Chelmsford increased by 7.2%, from about 157,000 to 168,000.

The addition of about 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chelmsford was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chelmsford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chelmsford increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 11% of people in Chelmsford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chelmsford

The percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Chelmsford

The number of people in Chelmsford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 26,000 in 2001 to just over 47,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Chelmsford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 120,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 11,000 to about 12,000. Both of these figures represented about 7.0% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 2,000 people (0.7%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,100 in 2001 (1.2%).

The population without a religion in Chelmsford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Chelmsford that rented privately increased from 6.7% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Chelmsford households that owned their home decreased from 78% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Chelmsford increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Chelmsford

The percentage of single people in Chelmsford increased from 28% to 31% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Chelmsford that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 27% in 2001 to 31% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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